Rams by the Numbers: Fall success and winter hopes

This week’s Rams by the Numbers leads with success for the New Canaan Rams against the rival Darien Blue Wave this fall, and then adds in some postseason awards, a little football (high school and college) and a look at a couple of winter teams as we turn the page to a new season.

5-2-1

New Canaan’s overall record against the rival Darien Blue Wave during the fall season. That includes victories in boys and girls cross country, volleyball, girls swimming and diving and football, and a tie in girls soccer. Several of Darien’s rivalry streaks ended during the fall, as New Canaan’s volleyball win over the Wave was its first in 15 years, the swim team’s victory on Senior Day was it’s first against the Wave in six years, and the football team’s win against Darien was its first in the Turkey Bowl since 2011.

38

Number of Ram athletes who were recognized on the All-FCIAC teams for their performances during the fall season.

13

Number of Rams who were named to the All-FCIAC First Teams. That includes five in swimming and diving, four in football, and one each in volleyball, boys cross country, field hockey, and boys soccer.

12

Number of consecutive years in which the New Canaan football team has had at least one win in the state playoffs. That streak began in 2006, when the playoffs were two rounds and the Rams defeated Coventry/Windham Tech 49-14, and Maloney 35-21 for the Class MM title. That New Canaan team was quarterbacked by Curt Casali.

28-14

Score of New Canaan’s loss to Masuk in the CIAC Class L football semifinals on Sunday. The Panthers led 14-0 after one quarter and 21-0 at halftime en route to the win, which ended the Rams’ four-year reign as state champs.

2

College football bowl games for former New Canaan football players. Zach Allen and the Boston College Eagles will face Iowa in the Pinstripe Bowl at Yankee Stadium at 5:15 p.m., Dec. 27. Texas Christian University and NCHS grads Lucas Niang and Michael Collins will play against Stanford in the Valero Alamo Bowl in San Antonio at 8 p.m., Dec. 28.

11-7-4

Overall record of the New Canaan girls ice hockey team last winter.

8-2-2

Record of the Rams’ girls ice hockey team over the final 12 games of the regular season last winter. New Canaan struggled at the start, going 3-3-2 in its first eight, but turned it on from there to qualify for both the FCIAC and state playoffs.

8

Freshmen on the New Canaan girls ice hockey team varsity roster. The Rams feature 22 varsity players, with six seniors, five juniors, and three sophomores as returning veterans. New Canaan is led by its four senior co-captains: Liz McCarthy, Brooke Deane, Zoe Jones and Gianna Bruno.

3-17

Record of the NCHS girls basketball team last season. The Rams is looking to improve on that number under new head coach John Winchester. The Rams are led by two senior co-captains: Karlie Bucci and Leigh Charlton,

2015

The last year in which the Rams qualified for the CIAC girls basketball tournament. New Canaan was 9-11 during that regular season, and lost a road game at Bacon Academy in the Class L first round. New Canaan’s last state playoff win was in 2011, when it beat Middletown 71-41 as part of a 16-6 season.

New Canaan’s Gianna Bruno battles for the puck during a game against Hall/Conard last winter. — Dave Stewart photo